Selina opened her eyes in quiet confusion.

The last thing she remembered was feeling dizzy in her bedroom, then her vision going dark. As she moved her hand slightly, she heard someone sobbing.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“……Marchioness.”

Marchioness Geminia was holding Selina’s hand with a voice that was almost crying.

“Where is……”

“This is the Empress’s Palace. When Your Majesty collapsed, how worried we were……”

It wasn’t just empty words – the Marchioness’s eyes were actually welling up with tears. Selina felt a corner of her heart grow warm.

Marchioness Geminia barely opened her mouth with a choked voice.

“Your Majesty the Empress, congratulations.”

What kind of greeting is this right after waking up? Selina was even starting to wonder if she was dreaming.

“What do you mean, Marchioness?”

“Your Majesty has conceived an imperial heir.”

The tightly grasped hand grew hot. At the same time, Selina’s slowly blinking eyes grew wider and wider.

The strange symptoms her body had been showing lately started to fit together one by one.

She had become unusually sleepy, more irritable and sensitive. The cessation of menstruation was a symptom that had occasionally occurred before, so she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

Selina quickly came to her senses and hurriedly tried to get up. The maids and Marchioness around her were startled and tried to stop her.

“The child, is my child safe?”

“Yes. That’s why you must always be careful. Never skip meals or eat carelessly again.”

“How can I express this gratitude……”

“Don’t worry about it. For now, just think about Your Majesty’s health.”

Marchioness Geminia continued speaking calmly. But inwardly, she was rejoicing.

She felt proud of her past self for not quickly switching sides to the Empress.

Now the future of the empire rests in the hands of the Empress.

Hasn’t she conceived the undeniable child of the Emperor? The Marchioness soothed Selina as she slowly helped her up.

“Now, the ball isn’t over yet. The main character always appears last, you know.”

Selina’s eyes began to fill with life again. Now Selina will attend the ball not as an imprisoned Empress, but as the Empress who has conceived the empire’s heir.

Adorned most beautifully and shining brighter than anyone else.

**

Inside the ballroom, quite a different atmosphere was flowing.

A somewhat excited air filled one corner. The source of the energy was the women hovering around Lebel.

People couldn’t take their eyes off the newly appeared mercenary captain, Lebel.

Lebel was just standing with his back against the wall. Even though he was just standing there with his arms crossed, looking ahead without saying a word, an unapproachable aura spread from him.

A cool, mysterious man who didn’t even show an opening to approach. The fearless mercenary captain who asked the Empress to dance as soon as he entered the hall.

His presence was no different from a stimulant that made people forget their boredom.

Women began to wander around his vicinity with curious gazes. Where else in the empire would you see a man with such an aura?

Lebel was providing proper eye candy for the noble ladies. It was frustrating that they couldn’t ask him to dance first or speak to him due to being bound by etiquette.

Those who were about to die of frustration at the sight were mostly men.

“Why is that bastard mixed in here……”

“Where did those clothes come from? Do mercenaries earn a lot of money?”

“The nerve to ask the Empress for a dance……”

But whatever words they added, it was nothing more than the grumbling of pitiful dried fish.

Lebel showed no interest at all in what they were babbling about. Instead, he only occasionally glanced at where Ilarid had been sitting.

The Empress’s seat was empty, as she had told him. People’s interests were also flowing towards interactions between the attendees rather than the host.

So he just had to wait quietly.

Soon his lady, Ilarid, will call for him again.

‘I too, will always return to you……’

“Captain Lebel.”

Cecilia had approached Lebel’s side at some point. If one just glanced nearby, it would seem like she was just standing still in the vicinity.

“Her Majesty the Empress is calling for you.”

It was the order from his lady that he had been longing for. Lebel’s fingers resting on his arm twitched slightly with anticipation.

It was better not to draw too much attention from others. They were careful even in their movement.

Cecilia pointed out the passage on the left side of the hall. She said she would leave first, and calculated the time difference, saying to meet there in about one minute.

With each falling step, anticipation lingered. Ilarid, where are you now? Where are you and what are you doing?

Passing through the small passage leading to the corner, Cecilia guided Lebel to a small door.

The sound of knocking rang out three times. And after taking a breath, once more. It seemed to be a signal the women had agreed upon. Ilarid’s voice was heard from inside telling them to enter.

“Your Majesty the Empress. I have brought him.”

Inside the room, not only Ilarid but also an unfamiliar figure was present.

She was a woman shining brightly as if forged from steel. The strong energy characteristic of the northern regions could be felt in her appearance as she met eyes with Lebel without hesitation.

She bowed her head briefly and greeted.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Luminess de Gerdia.”

Anyway, since the other person was a noble, Lebel quickly tried to bend his knee to greet her.

But Countess Gerdia, Luminess, raised him up.

“Let’s skip the formal greetings. We should get to the point quickly, as it’s quite an urgent situation.”

“……I am grateful for the Countess’s consideration. I am Lebel, captain of the Rikas Mercenary Company.”

Lebel knew of her. Gerdia in the north was one of the regions that even nomadic tribes hesitated to invade.

Gerdia adhered to the method of surviving on their own rather than relying on the help of mercenaries. After Luminess de Gerdia, the only heir, inherited the title of Count, there were even evaluations that it had become more livable than before.

Although he was aware of the fact that the leader of Gerdia was a woman, it felt different to face her like this.

Lebel glanced back at the closed door. One entrance. There was no other way out anywhere. It was a secret space that felt stuffy at first glance, without even a window.

‘Is this one of the secret rooms in the imperial palace?’

A low, long table was placed in the center of the room. Ilarid sat on the upper seat and pointed to an empty sofa for Lebel.

“Since a new person has arrived, we should review the conversation we’ve had so far.”

Ilarid looked at Luminess and Lebel sitting on either side.

Luminess expressed a positive response to the Emperor regarding advancement into the northern region. In return for wholeheartedly helping with the imperial plan, she demanded active support.

“The Gerdia territory is more barren than you might think. Thanks to Your Majesty the Empress’s attention, there are no more territory residents starving or freezing to death like before, but……”

Still, the population was lacking. There was still too much land that needed to be reclaimed for crop cultivation.

If they set up a new special district and carried out land reclamation work, it would become quite a livable environment for people.

“I hope this occasion will bring vitality to the northern region.”

“It’s thanks to the efforts of Your Majesty the Empress.”

Warm words were exchanged between Luminess and Ilarid, but Lebel opened his mouth as if somewhat unsatisfied.

“May I ask both of you something? Do you plan to set up a special district in Gerdia?”

Gerdia is a region that is mostly mountainous. The high altitude made it unsuitable for many people to gather and establish settlements.

Water sources were also a problem. It was said that during the great famine that hit the north a few years ago, the river near the Gerdia mountain range bottomed out. Although the situation has improved compared to before due to the development of waterways, there were still limitations due to the high altitude.

The Empress and the Countess read the anxiety the mercenary captain was thinking.

“Of course not.”

As relief flashed across Lebel’s face, Luminess spoke as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“I have just spoken to His Majesty the Emperor about a region in the north. Perhaps Your Majesty the Empress and the mercenary captain here feel the same way.”

“Shall we say it at once when I count to three?”

Ilarid smiled, mixing in a seemingly playful tone. One, two, three.

“Valentium.”

Well, of course. The same place burst out of the mouths of all three people at once. It was too regrettable to hide the satisfied smile hanging on the corners of their mouths.

“Currently, Valentium is a place managed by sending a proxy. It has the flaw of low temperatures and barren land, but if reclamation work is done, it can become a natural fortress.”

Located at the midpoint of the Gerdia mountain range, Valentium had suitable flatlands and a river nearby.

Although it was quite far from the imperial capital Triden, there was a separate reason why they were focusing on Valentium.

“Valentium is the northernmost region bordering the frontier. I think it’s appropriate to use as an advance base for northern expansion.”

“His Majesty the Emperor was also satisfied after analyzing the situation in Valentium.”

“The remaining issue would be support from the Eastern Continent.”

But there is no pure support. Pegeia will try to expand their influence to the Western Continent while supporting the empire.

Ilarid slowly leaned back against the sofa. A sigh flowed out naturally, as if some tension had been released.

A faint smile crossed Luminess’s lips.

“His Majesty the Emperor will likely dispatch a new leader to Valentium. Perhaps…… the person in front of me right now.”

Lebel’s gaze, who was pointed at, slowly lowered.

It was something he had already prepared for. There’s no place more appropriate than a place far from the capital to properly raise troops.

Lebel’s words asking for territory and a title at the first banquet where he faced Cledius were by no means empty.

He probably expected that they would send him, a mercenary from the north, to that barren land in the vicinity.

So he planned to build up his strength, watch for the right time, and then strike Cledius at the opportune moment.

‘The only problem would be…… my physical condition.’

Lebel noticed the anomaly that had occurred in his body. The suspicious headaches, dizziness, and pain constricting near his heart that occasionally came over him showed no signs of improvement.

Even if he couldn’t join in bringing down Cledius and cutting off his head, he must at least finish putting the knife handle in Ilarid’s hand.

He wanted to hold Ilarid’s hand and reassure her. Even if their bodies become distant, may her heart be at ease.

We will always move forward, saving each other.

Luminess noticed the desire flowing in Lebel’s eyes and rose from her seat.

‘You must be the shadow and hidden strength of Her Majesty the Empress.’

Perhaps even the core of this affair. She bowed to Ilarid again.

“I will take my leave now. I plan to stay in the capital for a few days. It’s my niece’s first social debut, so there are many things to take care of here and there.”

“Thank you, Count Gerdia.”

Count, not Countess. Ilarid’s form of address did not deliberately distinguish gender. When asked about the reason when they first met, the Empress calmly replied as if asking something obvious.

‘Isn’t she the only one who has inherited the title of Count of Gerdia at present?’

Well, there is no title of ‘male count’. Luminess let out a short laugh and withdrew from the secret room.

All that remains now is the amicable agreement between the two people in the secret room. The Count of Gerdia strode vigorously back to the ballroom.

Only two people remained in the secret space with only one entrance and exit.

The sofa next to where Ilarid was sitting sank down with a thud. Startled, she turned to look and found Lebel had already approached right next to her.

“Um, Lebel. You’re too close.”

“If you dislike it, I will move away.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“……It’s not that.”

“You have no talent for lying at all. Neither do I.”

“Then may I speak one truth?”

Lebel slowly began to take in Ilarid’s appearance. The details he hadn’t properly observed in the banquet hall now came into view.

The black ceremonial dress that could have looked plain was shining beautifully on her body. Rather, it was possible because there were no decorations, because it was Ilarid.

Lebel caressed the wound on Ilarid’s neck with his gloved hand. A faint trembling could be felt right through the fabric.

“……You’re dazzling, Your Majesty the Empress.”

An ardent gaze pierced into Ilarid. Soon his hand slowly trailed up Ilarid’s neckline.

In the moment of isolation in the secret room, there was only one thing he wanted.